Department for Transport

Transport Update

Mr Mark Harper: During this Parliament there has been a step change in public investment in infrastructure. The Autumn Statement protected the public capital budget at record levels, meaning government will invest over £600 billion over the next five years. The Chancellor has announced over £40bn of capital investment in transport across the next two financial years, which will drive significant improvements to rail and roads right across our country. Since agreeing this programme, we have seen headwinds from inflation, triggered by the impact of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine, as well as supply chain disruption as the global economy recovers from the effects of Covid-19. These headwinds have made it difficult to deliver on our capital programmes, and we recognise that some schemes are going to take longer than expected. Refocusing our efforts will allow us to double down on delivering the rest of our capital programme. This will place our transport investments on a sustainable footing and allow us to support the Government’s priorities of halving inflation, growing the economy and reducing debt. In terms of major road investments, Road Investment Strategy (RIS) 2 schemes will continue to progress. The A27 Arundel and A5036 Princess Way in Liverpool both face a range of challenges including environmental considerations and ongoing scope and design changes to ensure stakeholders’ views are fully considered. As a result, these schemes will be deferred to RIS 3 (covering 2025 – 2030). Other schemes earmarked for RIS 3 will continue to be developed, in line with the statutory process, but for consideration for inclusion during RIS 4 (beyond 2030). Given many of these schemes were previously expected towards the end of RIS 3, this extra time will help ensure better planned and efficient schemes can be deployed more effectively.To date we have spent over £800m on planning the Lower Thames Crossing. It is one of the largest planning applications ever, and it is important we get this right. We remain committed to the Lower Thames Crossing, and the Development Consent Order process will be an important opportunity to consult further to ensure there is an effective and deliverable plan. In order to allow time for this process, and given wider pressures on RIS, we will look to rephase construction by 2 years.In rail, HS2 is making good progress, and we have already spent over £20 billion delivering Phase One between London and the West Midlands, supporting 2,500 businesses and creating over 29,000 jobs. The Government is prioritising HS2’s initial services between Old Oak Common in London and Birmingham Curzon Street to provide delivery of passenger benefits as soon as possible. We remain committed to delivering HS2 services to Euston, and will address affordability pressures to ensure the overall spending profile is manageable. We will therefore take the time to ensure we have an affordable and deliverable station design, delivering Euston alongside high-speed infrastructure to Manchester. We continue to take the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill through Parliament, and the Crewe-to-Manchester section will also form the foundations for improved rail services in the North through Northern Powerhouse Rail.The Government is committed to delivering HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe. We have seen significant inflationary pressure and increased project costs, and so we will rephase construction by two years, with an aim to deliver high-speed services to Crewe and the North West as soon as possible after accounting for the delay in construction. Work continues on progressing commitments made in the Integrated Rail Plan to develop HS2 East, the proposed route for HS2 services between the West and East Midlands, and to consider the most effective way to take HS2 trains to Leeds. HS2 continues to represent a very significant investment into our national infrastructure, levelling up communities right across our country, providing a net-zero alternative to car travel and domestic flights, and training a skilled workforce for the UK’s future construction industry.We remain committed to supporting all forms of transport and have invested over £850m in active travel between 2020/21 and 2022/23. Despite the need to deliver efficiency in all areas of our budget, we will still commit to spend at least a further £100m capital into active travel over the remainder of the spending period, as part of a total of around £3bn investment in active travel over this Parliament, including from City and Region Sustainable Transport settlements and National Highways. We will review these levels as soon as practically possible.These are the difficult but responsible decisions we are taking, that put the priorities of the British people first, in controlling inflation and reducing government debt. They continue our record investment into our national infrastructure, which will continue to play a vital role in growing our economy and delivering long-term prosperity.

General Lighthouse Fund – Light Dues Rate update

Mr Richard Holden: My Noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Baroness Vere of Norbiton) has made the following Ministerial StatementA strong and growing maritime industry is vital to the economy of the United Kingdom and it is critical that we treasure and protect this vital artery if we are to remain a world-leading maritime centre.The work of the General Lighthouse Authorities, which provide and maintain marine aids to navigation and respond to new wrecks and navigation dangers in some of the busiest waters in the world, is crucial to underpinning that vision whilst maintaining our strong safety record and continuously improving safety standards.Light Dues, which are paid by the shipping industry such that the General Lighthouse Authority’s costs are met without the need to call on the UK Exchequer, have reduced by 31 per cent in real terms since 2010.The unprecedented impact of the pandemic and the reduction in Light Dues income make an incremental rise in 2023-24 necessary.To ensure the General Lighthouse Authorities have the funding they need to complete their vital maritime safety work I have, therefore, made the difficult decision to increase the Light Dues rate by four pence to 45 pence per net tonne for 2023-24.Light Dues will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that the General Lighthouse Authorities are challenged to provide an effective and efficient service which offers value for money to Light Dues payers.

Home Office

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

Robert Jenrick: My Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. The government’s number one priority is keeping the UK safe. In order to further strengthen our border security the government is launching an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. The ETA scheme will be implemented in a phased manner, on a nationality basis, over the next two years. Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will be the first countries to benefit from the ETA scheme. The Home Office will provide further details about which country will be next to benefit from the ETA scheme in due course. These rules explain how the UK’s forthcoming ETA scheme will be administered. The rules set out: who is required to apply for and obtain an ETA prior to travelling to the United Kingdom; the form or manner in which an application for an ETA may be made, granted or refused and specifies the conditions which must be met before an application for an ETA may be granted. The Rules also stipulate how long an ETA will be valid for, the conditions under which it may be varied or cancelled and any exceptions to the requirement to obtain one. We are also implementing changes for Innovators which have previously been announced in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s document “UK Innovation Strategy: leading the future by creating it” (published on 22 July 2021). The Innovator Founder route removes the £50k minimum funds requirement currently applied to those coming to the UK to establish an innovative business in order to make more flexible provision for those with a genuine proposal for an innovative business and sufficient funds to deliver it. The changes relax existing restrictions on innovators engaging in employment outside the running of their business, provided such secondary employment is in a skilled role (i.e., at least skilled to RQF Level 3). The changes close the existing Start-up route to new initial applications except where they are supported by endorsements issued before 13 April 2023. With the removal of the £50k minimum funds requirement for Innovator Founders, it is no longer necessary to retain a separate route for start-up entrepreneurs that do not have access to this level of funds. This means that applicants who would not meet the existing £50K requirement will be able to obtain permission for three years from the outset, rather than the one year granted to Start-up route applicants under existing arrangements. The salary requirements for skilled work immigration routes have been updated in line with the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data. To prevent exploitation of migrants, a minimum salary is set, based on the 25th percentile of average earnings for each job role, as per the most recent ASHE data. The Skilled Worker route base line minimum salary has also been increased. Finally, more routes have been simplified in line with the recommendations of the Law Commission report ‘Simplifying the Immigration Rules’, to which the government responded on 25 March 2020. The changes to the Immigration Rules are being laid on 9 March 2023. The changes relating to the ETA and updates to employment requirements in work routes will come into effect on 12 April 2023. The new Innovator Founder route will come into effect on 13 April 2023.

Department for Business and Trade

Update on Trade Remedies Framework

Kemi Badenoch: The Government is announcing today that it will make new legislation to improve the way the Government protects businesses from unfair international competition and unforeseen surges in imports.This follows work by my department to assess whether our trade remedies framework gives us the tools we need.One of the advantages of being an independent trading nation is that we can adapt our domestic rules to UK economic circumstances.The independent Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is a key part of the new framework to defend UK industry. It was set up with the power to investigate unfair trading practices and provide objective, independent, expert advice to Ministers.The proposals I am announcing today maintain the TRA’s expert independent analytical and investigative role, while also giving Ministers greater power to look at wider public interest considerations and flexibility to make decisions that balance the interests of UK producers, importers and consumers.More specifically, the updated framework will do the following.Require the TRA to notify Ministers before initiating new investigations. Provide Ministers with the power to request the TRA to reassess a recommendation to apply a trade remedy where there is justification to do so. For example, where there is new evidence which the TRA has not previously considered or to correct an error. Give Ministers the flexibility to apply an alternative remedy to that recommended by the TRA, where there is supporting evidence to do so, and it is in the public interest.  Give the power to the TRA to provide alternative options within its recommendation to Ministers, where justified. Make the TRA’s assessment of the economic interest test (EIT) advisory so that the Ministers will still be able to apply measures if the TRA determines that the EIT is not met. Give Ministers the power to revoke trade remedy measures without the need for a TRA recommendation if retaining a measure is no longer in the public interest. Ministers may request that the TRA provide advice, support and assistance before deciding to revoke measures. These reforms will require both primary and secondary legislation which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.These changes will enhance the flow of information between the TRA and the Government and allow Ministers to apply an alternative remedy from that recommended by the TRA. This will only be where justified and in line with the evidence provided, giving Ministers greater flexibility within the international framework.

Department of Health and Social Care

Prescription Charge Annual Uplift

Neil O'Brien: Charges for NHS prescriptions, wigs and fabric supports  The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (“the Amendment Regulations”) have today been laid before Parliament to increase certain National Health Service charges in England from 1 April 2023. We have applied an inflation rate of 3.21%. This year we have increased the prescription charge by 30 pence from £9.35 to £9.60 for each medicine or appliance dispensed. The cost of prescription pre-payment certificates (PPC) will also be increased: 3-month PPC increases by £1 to £31.25 and 12-month PPC increases by £3.50 to £111.60. The recently introduced HRT PPC will cost £19.30. Charges for wigs and fabric supports will also be increased in line with the blended inflation rate, as described above. Details of the revised charges for 2023/24 can be found in the table below:   2022/32023/4change in £Single prescription charge£9.35£9.650.30PPC 3 month£30.25£31.251.00PPC 12 month£108.10£111.603.50HRT PPCn/a£19.30n/aSurgical bra£30.70£31.701.00Abdominal or spinal support£46.30£47.801.50Stock acrylic wig£75.70£78.152.45Partial human hair wig£200.50£207.006.50Full bespoke human hair wig£293.20£302.709.50

Dissolution of Public Health England

Neil O'Brien: I am today informing Parliament of the formal dissolution of Public Health England (PHE). This follows the laying before Parliament of the PHE annual report and accounts for 2021 to 2022. The annual report and accounts include half year accounts for PHE covering the final period of its operation between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021. In August 2020 the Government announced its intention to reform the public health system in England. These reforms were driven by lessons learned from the pandemic, and by the need to make sure we have a public health system fit for the future. Since that announcement, we have established the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as organisation dedicated solely to identifying, preventing and managing threats to health. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has been created in the Department of Health and Social Care to put prevention of ill health and the tackling of health disparities at the heart of government. NHS England’s focus on prevention and population health has been strengthened, and important national disease registries have also moved to NHS England, to more deeply embed prevention across the NHS. On 30 September 2021, PHE ceased all operations and effectively closed. At this point PHE’s functions and staff transferred to UKHSA, OHID (in DHSC), NHS England and NHS Digital. From 1 October 2021 the new national public health infrastructure in England was fully operational.

Department for Education

T Levels Update

Gillian Keegan: Today I am announcing some changes to the rollout timetable of T Levels in England. We have decided to defer first delivery of three T Levels in Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Therapy; Craft and Design; and Media, Broadcast and Production from 2023 to 2024. We have taken the decision to defer the Catering T Level beyond 2024, to allow time to consult with employers and sector bodies to ensure that this T Level meets all the needs of the sector, and will provide an update on the rollout timetable of this T Level in due course. The T Level in Legal Services will be introduced as planned in 2023, alongside the T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production which is subject to the usual approval process, and the Animal Care and Management T Level remains on course for first teaching in 2024, and Marketing in 2025.We have a world class and established academic pathway in A levels, and we are introducing T Levels to provide an equally high quality, technical option for post-16 students that supports their progression and meets the needs of employers. Now more than ever, as we recover from the pandemic, we need students to finish education well equipped to progress to further training or to get a skilled job, allowing businesses to recover and thrive. As such, quality has been the priority and I am determined that we protect the quality of T Levels to ensure that they continue to lead to great outcomes for all students. T Level technical qualifications will only be approved for delivery where we are sure they are good enough and can be delivered to a high standard. As such, there is more work for awarding organisations to do before IfATE and Ofqual can be clear that these T Levels are capable of meeting the high quality bar required by both organisations to enable them to be taken into delivery, and that will not be possible in time for launch this September. This is a decision that has been taken jointly between IfATE and the Department for Education, in consultation with Ofqual and the relevant awarding organisations.In September, 18 T Levels will be available, being delivered by hundreds of providers. The T Level Action Plan, which was published today, sets out that T Level starts doubled from around 5,000 to around 10,000 between 2021 and 2022. Most importantly, T Level students, teachers and employers continue to give us great feedback on the quality of T Level courses.We have backed providers with significant additional revenue and capital funding so they are well prepared and have the resources to deliver T Levels to a high standard. We have made around £400m available to improve buildings and buy state of the art equipment. We recently announced a short term 10% uplift in T Level revenue funding to help providers as they transition from study programmes and scale up and a new £12m Employer Support Fund to help providers deliver quality industry placements. This comes alongside a range of practical support measures we have put in place to support providers to implement T Levels.As part of the wider qualifications review, we have set out that there will be at least one year between the introduction of a T Level and the removal of funding approval for overlapping qualifications. Qualifications that overlap with the three T Levels moved back to 2024 were already due to have funding removed in 2025 and this will not change; there will still be dual running for one year. We will confirm implications for qualifications that overlap with the Catering T Level when we provide an update on the timetable for introduction.T Levels have been designed together with employers to ensure that they will give young people the skills and experience that businesses need. They remain brilliant qualifications that are transforming technical education in England, giving it the status it deserves, giving students qualifications that will lead to rewarding careers, and giving businesses access to young people with the skills that they need to grow and thrive. I would like to thank all T Level providers who continue to work so hard to make T Levels a success and we remain committed to working closely with schools and colleges as we roll out T Levels. The decision we have taken today will protect the quality of T Levels to ensure that every student taking a T Level knows they are taking a world class technical course.